Yarn bobbin



June 10, 1958 w MccQLLQUGH 2,838,254

YARN BOBBIN Filed Aug. 2, 1954 IN VEN TOR.

GLEN W. MCCOLLOUGH jaw-x 8.

United States Patentfi YARN BOBBIN Glen W. McCollough, La Jolla, Calif.

Application August 2, 1954, Serial No. 447,029

Claims. (Cl. 242-125) The present invention relates generally to bobbinsand more particularly to a yarn bobbin.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a yarn bobbincomprising a simple tubular element having an angularly cut end which,when the bobbin is threaded correctly, prevents the yarn from unwindingexcept when the yarn is intentionally released.

Another object of this invention is to provide a yarn bobbin which isextremely compact and is ideally suited for use when knitting with yarnsof several colors, with a separate bobbin being used to hold each colorof yarn.

Another object of this invention is to provide a yarn bobbin which maybeused with a loom as well as in knitting done by hand.

Another object of this invention is to provide a yarn bobbin which isadapted for fabrication from many different materials, so that thechoice ofmaterial can be according to the dictates ofavailability andprice considerations, the exact sizes and proportions being matterseasily determined to suit particular conditions and needs.

Another object of this invention is to provide a yarn bobbin which isinexpensive and practicable to manufacture.

Finally, it is an object to provide a yarn bobbin of the aforementionedcharacter which is simple and convenient to use, and which will givegenerally efiicient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consistsin the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements andportions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification,particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawingwhich forms a material part of this disclosure and wherein similarcharacters of reference indicate similar or identical elements andportions throughout the specification and throughout the views of thedrawing, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the bobbin wound and threaded with aquantity of yarn.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof taken on the line 2-2 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partially sectioned, fragmentary, side elevation view of thebobbin with an end ring secured thereon.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the bobbin comprises a tubularspool portion or body 12 having an obliquely angularly profiled end 14.The body 12 may be of any suitable cross sectional shape according toneeds, certain shapes being more suitable than others for particularpurposes, that illustrated being circular in cross section. The body 12may be made from various materials, plastic being ideal for handknitting or the like and when the bobbin is to be used with a loom itcan be weighted or constructed from a heavier material such as anysuitable metal.

To use the bobbin 10, a quantity of yarn 16 is Wound around the body 12in the normal manner, the free end 18 thereof being threaded through theyarn receiving bore 19 ice of said body from the obliquelyprofiled end14 and looped over the endso that the portion 20 .of aloop 22 engagesthe obliquely profiled end 14 which is elliptical in form. When the freeend 18 is pulled taut, or the bobbin is suspended on the yarn, theportion 20 of the loop 22 quickly seeks the part 24 of the profiled end14 which is closest to the wound part of the yarn with the result thatthe yarn binds or locks against further unwinding. Thus the yarn 16 isprevented from unwinding from the bobbin until intentionally released.This is accomplished by grasping the loop 22 of the yarn and pulling therequired length of yarn free, the slack then being pulled through theyarn receiving bore 19 until the yarn once more binds on the angularlyprofiled end 14.

If desired the bobbin may be constructed as shown in Fig. 3, in whichthe obliquely profiled end 14 is fitted with an end ring 26 adapted toincrease the coeflicient of friction between the portion 20 and thebobbin. This ring may be of resilient material such as rubber, plasticor the like. This end ring 26 provides considerable frictional surfaceon which the portion 20 tends to bind.

The bobbin may be made in various sizes according to requirements, anideal size for hand knitting being approximately 2 /2 inches in length,for example. Further, both ends of the body 12 may be angularly out ifdesired, since this may cheapen the manufacture of the bobbin, and

it is also conceived that the end 14 may be modified to present a moreor less sharply angulated profile and that the end 14 may be notched ifdesired.

The operation of this invention will be clearly comprehended from aconsideration of the foregoing description of the details thereof, takenin connection with the drawing and the above recited objects. It will beobvious that all said objects are amply achieved by this invention.

Further description would appear to be unnecessary.

It is understood that minor variation from the forms of the inventiondisclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scopeof the invention, and that the specification and drawing are to beconsidered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

1. A yarn bobbin comprising an elongated, thinwalled, hollow cylindricalbody completely open at both ends and having one end lying in a singleplane extending at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the bodyand having an elliptical form, said body constituting a spool onto whichcoils of yarn may be wound externally, the hollow body constituting achannel for the free end portion of the yarn which in use is looped oversaid one end, and said one end, by virtue of its elliptical form,constituting means for automatically guiding the yarn looped thereovertoward that point of said one end closest to said coils, therebypreventing unwanted unwinding.

2. A yarn bobbin comprising an elongated, thin-walled, hollow,recti-cylindrical'body completely open at both ends and having at oneend an elliptical edge lying in a single plane extending obliquelyangular relative to the longitudinal axis of the body, and means toresist slippage of yarn over one side of said elliptical edge.

3. A yarn bobbin comprising an elongated tubular, thin-walled bodyhaving a spool portion on which yarn may be externally wound, at leastone end of said body being obliquely angular with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the body and having an elliptical form with oneportion thereof defining a sharp edge extending toward said axis toresist slippage of yarn engaged therewith.

4. A yarn bbobin comprising an elongated tubular, thin-walled bodyhaving a spool portion on which yarn may be externally wound, said bodybeing open at both ends, at least one end of said bobbin beingelliptical having an end ring fixed thereto, said end ring being of softmaterial to resist slippage of a strand of yarn looped thereover.

5. A bobbin according to claim 1 and including an end ring of softmaterial fixed to said one end.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSRussell Aug. 6, 1889 Amrhein Aug. 8, 1939 Duren July 2, 1940 Atwood Mar.3, 1953 Klein July 24, 1956

